US7844199B2 - Image forming apparatus having detachable intermediate transfer body - Google Patents

Image forming apparatus having detachable intermediate transfer body Download PDF

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Publication number
US7844199B2
US7844199B2 US12/119,529 US11952908A US7844199B2 US 7844199 B2 US7844199 B2 US 7844199B2 US 11952908 A US11952908 A US 11952908A US 7844199 B2 US7844199 B2 US 7844199B2
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United States
Prior art keywords
intermediate transfer
transfer body
belt
image forming
shaped intermediate
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US12/119,529
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US20090123178A1 (en
Inventor
Shiroh Suzuki
Kazuyoshi Hagiwara
Masaaki Tokunaga
Yousuke Hasegawa
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Fujifilm Business Innovation Corp
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Fuji Xerox Co Ltd
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Assigned to FUJI XEROX CO., LTD. reassignment FUJI XEROX CO., LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: HAGIWARA, KAZUYOSHI, HASEGAWA, YOUSUKE, SUZUKI, SHIROH, TOKUNAGA, MASAAKI
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Publication of US7844199B2 publication Critical patent/US7844199B2/en
Assigned to FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP. reassignment FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP. CHANGE OF NAME (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/14—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base
    • G03G15/16—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base of a toner pattern, e.g. a powder pattern, e.g. magnetic transfer
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
    • G03G21/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
    • G03G21/1642—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements for connecting the different parts of the apparatus
    • G03G21/1647—Mechanical connection means
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/01—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for producing multicoloured copies
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/14—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base
    • G03G15/16—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base of a toner pattern, e.g. a powder pattern, e.g. magnetic transfer
    • G03G15/1605—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base of a toner pattern, e.g. a powder pattern, e.g. magnetic transfer using at least one intermediate support
    • G03G15/161—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base of a toner pattern, e.g. a powder pattern, e.g. magnetic transfer using at least one intermediate support with means for handling the intermediate support, e.g. heating, cleaning, coating with a transfer agent
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
    • G03G21/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
    • G03G21/1661—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements means for handling parts of the apparatus in the apparatus
    • G03G21/168—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements means for handling parts of the apparatus in the apparatus for the transfer unit
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2221/00—Processes not provided for by group G03G2215/00, e.g. cleaning or residual charge elimination
    • G03G2221/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements and complete machine concepts
    • G03G2221/1642—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements and complete machine concepts for the transfer unit

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.
  • this type image forming apparatus is composed as follows. Toner images of four colors, which are formed by four image forming units of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (K), are multiply transferred onto an intermediate transfer belt arranged in upper portions of these four image forming units. Then the toner images multiply transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt are secondarily transferred onto a recording medium all at once and then fixed. In this way, a full color image is formed.
  • a cleaning device for cleaning a surface of the intermediate transfer belt, on which the transfer step has already been finished, is provided on one side end portion in the circumferential direction of the intermediate transfer belt.
  • the image forming apparatus composed as described above includes an intermediate transfer belt unit for pivotally holding the intermediate transfer belt.
  • the intermediate transfer belt unit can be freely attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus body so that the maintenance work can be executed.
  • the image forming apparatus body also includes a cleaning device for cleaning the intermediate transfer belt. This cleaning device can be also freely attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus body.
  • the above image forming apparatus is composed so that the intermediate transfer belt unit can be attached to and detached from the apparatus body together with the cleaning device in a direction of one side of the apparatus body.
  • the above image forming apparatus is composed so that the intermediate transfer belt unit can be attached to and detached from the front face of the apparatus body together with the cleaning device.
  • the intermediate transfer belt is arranged in the apparatus body being inclined with respect to the apparatus body. It is also possible to consider that a width of the intermediate transfer belt concerned is decreased.
  • the image forming apparatus is composed so that the intermediate transfer belt, which is arranged being inclined with respect to the apparatus body, can be freely attached to and detached from the apparatus body in a direction of one side of the apparatus body
  • the intermediate transfer belt unit which is arranged being inclined with respect to the apparatus body, interferes with a sheet supplying mechanism arranged on one side of the apparatus body or interferes with an electric power circuit arranged on the other side of the apparatus body. Therefore, when the intermediate transfer belt unit is attached to and detached from the apparatus body, the sheet supplying mechanism and the electric power circuit must be once removed from the apparatus body. Accordingly, the maintenance work becomes very complicated.
  • an image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus body including: an image forming unit that forms toner images having the colors being different from each other; a intermediate transfer body that has a belt-shape, and that is arranged in an upper portion of the image forming unit being inclined with respect to the horizontal direction, the toner images being transferred onto the intermediate transfer body; an intermediate transfer body unit that detachably holds the intermediate transfer body with respect to the apparatus body; and a guide rail member that detachably guides the intermediate transfer body unit in a direction of one side of the apparatus body, and that is set so that the direction, in which the intermediate transfer body unit is guided, is changed in the middle of guiding.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing appearance of a tandem type full color multi function machine that is an image forming apparatus of Embodiment 1 of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is an overall arrangement view showing a tandem type full color multi function machine that is an image forming apparatus of Embodiment 1 of the present invention
  • FIG. 3 is an arrangement view showing an image forming unit of a tandem type full color multi function machine that is an image forming apparatus of Embodiment 1 of the present invention
  • FIG. 4 is an enlarged arrangement view showing an image forming unit of a tandem type full color multi function machine that is an image forming apparatus of Embodiment 1 of the present invention
  • FIG. 5 is an arrangement view showing a state in which an intermediate transfer belt is provided being stretched
  • FIGS. 6A and 6B are arrangement views showing a mechanism for retracting an intermediate transfer belt
  • FIG. 7 is a perspective arrangement view showing an attaching and detaching mechanism of an intermediate transfer body unit
  • FIG. 8 is a side arrangement view showing an attaching and detaching mechanism of an intermediate transfer body unit
  • FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing appearance of a tandem type full color multi function machine that is an image forming apparatus of Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 10A and 10B are arrangement views showing an opening and closing state of a side cover
  • FIGS. 11A and 11B are arrangement views showing an opening and closing state of a side cover
  • FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a tandem type full color multi function machine that is an image forming apparatus of Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 13A and 13B are arrangement views showing attaching and detaching operation of an intermediate transfer body unit.
  • FIGS. 14A and 14B are arrangement views showing attaching and detaching operation of an intermediate transfer body unit.
  • FIG. 2 is a view showing a tandem type digital color multi function machine which is an image forming apparatus of Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
  • This tandem type digital color multi function machine has an image reading device.
  • the tandem type digital color multi function machine may be applied to a printer having no image reading device.
  • reference numeral 1 is a main body of the tandem type digital color multi function machine.
  • An automatic document conveying device 3 for automatically conveying documents 2 one by one and a document reading machine 4 for reading an image on the document 2 conveyed by the automatic document conveying device 3 are arranged in an upper portion of this multi function machine body 1 .
  • This document reading device 4 illuminates the document 2 , which is placed on the platen glass 5 , by the light source 6 . Therefore, an reflected optical image of the document 2 is exposed and scanned on the image reading element 11 having CCD through the reduced optical system including the full-rate mirror 7 , the half-rate mirrors 8 , 9 and the condensing lens 10 . In this way, the reflected optical image of the document 2 can be read out by the image reading element 11 at a predetermined dot density, for example, 16 dot/mm.
  • the reflected optical image of the document 2 which has been read out by the above document reading device 4 , is sent to the image processing device 12 as document reflectance data of three colors of red (R), green (G) and blue (B) (8 bit data).
  • This image processing device 12 conducts image processing such as a shading correction, positional shift correction, lightness/color space conversion, gamma correction, frame erasing and color/movement editing on the reflectance data of the document 2 .
  • the image processing device 12 is composed so that it can conduct image processing on image data sent from a personal computer not shown.
  • Image data which has been subjected to image processing by the image processing device 12 as described above, is converted into gradation data of four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (K) by the same image processing device 12 (8 bit data).
  • the image data is sent to the image exposing devices 14 of the image forming units 13 Y, 13 M, 13 C, 13 K of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (K).
  • image exposing devices 14 according to gradation data of document 2 of a predetermined color, image exposure is executed by light emergent from LED light emitting element array.
  • this embodiment includes: a plurality of image forming units for forming toner images of different colors; and a belt-shaped intermediate transfer body, which is arranged being inclined with respect to the horizontal direction in an upper portion of the plurality of image forming units, onto which toner images formed by the plurality of image forming units are transferred.
  • the above tandem type digital color multi function machine body 1 includes four image forming units 13 Y, 13 M, 13 C, 13 K of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (K) which are arranged in such a manner that the image forming units are inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal direction so that the image forming unit 13 Y of the first color of yellow (Y) can be arranged at a high position and the image forming unit 13 K of the last color of black (K) can be arranged at a low position, wherein these image forming units are arranged at predetermined intervals in parallel with each other.
  • each image forming unit includes: a photoreceptor drum 15 which is an image carrying body rotated by a drive means not shown at a predetermined rotary speed; a charging roller 16 for uniformly charging a surface of the photoreceptor drum 15 so as to primarily charge the photoreceptor drum 15 ; an image exposing device 14 composed of LED print head for forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 15 by exposing an image corresponding to a predetermined color; a developing device 17 for developing the electrostatic latent image formed in the photoreceptor drum 15 by toner of a predetermined color; and a cleaning device 18 for cleaning a surface of the photoreceptor drum 15 .
  • the photoreceptor drum 15 is a drum, the diameter of which is 30 mm, which is made of an organic photoreceptor having an over-coating layer on the surface. This photoreceptor drum 15 is rotated by a drive motor not shown at a predetermined rotary speed.
  • the charging roller 16 is a roller-shaped charger, the surface of the core metal of which is covered with a conductive layer made of synthetic resin or rubber so that the electric resistance can be adjusted.
  • the core metal of this charging roller 16 is impressed with a predetermined charging bias.
  • the cleaning roller 16 a for removing foreign objects such as toner, which have been attached onto the surface of the charging roller 16 is arranged being contacted with the surface of this charging roller 16 .
  • the image exposing devices 14 are respectively arranged in four image forming units 13 Y, 13 M, 13 C, 13 K.
  • Each image exposing device 14 includes: an LED light emitting element array in which LED light emitting elements are linearly arranged at predetermined intervals (for example, 600 dpi); and a Celfox lens (brand name) for forming a spot-shaped image out of light that is emergent from each LED light emitting element of the LED light emitting array concerned.
  • the above image forming device 14 is composed so that it can form an image on the photoreceptor drum 15 when scanning is made from downward.
  • image data of each color is outputted in order to the image exposing device 14 Y, 14 M, 14 C, 14 K individually provided in the image forming unit 13 Y, 13 M, 13 C, 13 K of each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (K).
  • a light beam from each image exposing device 14 Y, 14 M, 14 C, 14 K in accordance with image data is subjected to scanning exposure onto a surface of the corresponding photoreceptor drum 15 , so that an electrostatic latent image can be formed.
  • Electrostatic latent images formed on the photoreceptor drums 15 are respectively developed by the developing devices 17 Y, 17 M, 17 C, 17 K so that toner images of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (K) can be formed.
  • the toner images of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (K), which have been formed in order on the photoreceptor drums 15 of the image forming units 13 Y, 13 M, 13 C, 13 K, are multiply transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 20 , which is a belt-shaped intermediate transfer body obliquely arranged in upper portions of the image forming units 13 Y, 13 M, 13 C, 13 K, by the primary transfer rollers 21 .
  • This intermediate transfer belt 20 is a belt-shaped member provided between a plurality of rollers.
  • the intermediate transfer belt 20 is arranged being inclined with respect to the horizontal direction so that a lower side running region of the belt-shaped member concerned can be lowered on the downstream side in the running direction and an upstream side running region of the belt-shaped member can be raised.
  • the above intermediate transfer belt 20 is provided being wound round the drive roller 22 , the back-up roller 23 , the tension roller 24 , the first idle roller 25 and the second idle roller 26 being given a predetermined tension.
  • This intermediate transfer belt 20 is driven and circulated in the arrowed direction at a predetermined speed by the drive roller 22 that is driven and rotated by an exclusively used drive motor to be rotated at a constant speed.
  • the above intermediate transfer belt 20 is composed in such a manner that a flexible film made of synthetic resin such as PET is formed into a belt-shape. Both end portions of this belt-shaped synthetic resin film are connected to each other by means of welding. In this way, an endless belt is formed so that it can be used for the intermediate transfer belt 20 .
  • the above intermediate transfer belt 20 is arranged so that its lower running region can be contacted with the photoreceptor drums 15 Y, 15 M, 15 C, 15 K of the image forming units 13 Y, 13 M, 13 C, 13 K.
  • the secondary transfer roller 27 is arranged which is serving as a secondary transfer means for secondarily transferring a toner image, which is primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 20 , onto a recording medium, is arranged at the lower side end of the intermediate transfer belt arranged being inclined with respect to the horizontal direction H by an angle in such a manner that the secondary transfer roller 27 comes into contact with a surface of the intermediate transfer belt 20 which is stretched by the backup roller 23 .
  • the recording sheet of paper 28 onto which the toner images of the colors have been transferred, is conveyed to the fixing device 29 arranged in an upper position.
  • the secondary transfer roller 27 comes into pressure contact with the side of the backup roller 23 . Therefore, the toner image of each color is secondarily transferred onto the recording sheet of paper 28 that is conveyed upward from a lower position in the perpendicular direction.
  • the recording sheet of paper 28 onto which the toner image of each color has been transferred, is subjected to the fixing processing by the fixing device 29 with heat and pressure. After that, the recording sheet of paper 28 is discharged by the first discharging roller 32 through the delivery roller 30 of the fixing device 29 and through the sheet discharging passage 31 onto the first discharging tray 33 provided in an upper portion of the apparatus body 1 . Alternatively, the recording sheet of paper 28 is discharged by the second discharging roller 34 onto the second discharging tray 35 provided in an upper portion of the apparatus body 1 . Alternatively, the recording sheet of paper 28 is discharged by the third discharging roller 36 onto the third face-up tray 37 provided on the side of the apparatus body 1 .
  • the recording sheet of paper 28 of a predetermined size is once conveyed from the sheet supply tray 40 , which is a recording medium accommodating container, or from one of the sheet supply trays 41 to 43 , which are arranged in a lower portion of the compound apparatus body 1 , to the resist roller 48 through the conveyance roller 49 and the sheet conveyance passage 47 by the sheet supply roller 44 and a pair of rollers 45 , 46 for separating and conveying the sheet of paper.
  • the recording sheet of paper 28 supplied from one of the above sheet supply trays 40 to 43 is sent to a secondary transfer position of the intermediate transfer belt 20 by the resist roller 48 which is rotated at a predetermined timing.
  • the recording sheet of paper 28 In the case where both sides of a recording sheet of paper are subjected to full color copying in the digital color printer and the copying apparatus, the recording sheet of paper 28 , on one side of which an image has already been fixed, is not discharged by the second discharging roller 34 onto the second discharging tray 35 but the conveyance direction is changed over by the changeover gate 32 b while a trailing end of the recording sheet of paper 28 is being held by the inversion roller 32 ( a ) and the recording sheet of paper is conveyed to the conveyance unit 50 for both sides.
  • the recording sheet of paper 28 is conveyed to the resist roller 48 again by the pair of conveyance rollers 52 to 54 provided along the conveyance passage 51 . This time, an image is transferred and fixed onto the reverse side and then the recording sheet of paper 28 is discharged onto one of the first discharging tray 33 to the third discharging tray 37 .
  • reference marks 55 Y, 55 M, 55 C and 55 K are toner cartridges for supplying toner of each color to the developing devices 17 of the respective colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), black (K).
  • the toner cartridge for accommodating toner of black (K) is larger than the toner cartridges of other colors because the toner cartridge for accommodating toner of black (K) is frequently used.
  • reference numeral 56 is a hand feeding tray.
  • a recording sheet of paper 28 is conveyed from the hand feeding tray 56 to the resist roller 48 by the sheet supplying roller 57 and the pair of rollers 58 , 59 for sheet separation and conveyance through the conveyance roller 60 .
  • FIG. 3 is a view showing each image forming unit of the digital color printer and the copying apparatus.
  • the image forming units 13 Y, 13 M, 13 C, 13 K of yellow, magenta, cyan and black are composed in the same manner. As described before, in these four image forming units 13 Y, 13 M, 13 C, 13 K, toner images of yellow, magenta, cyan and black are formed in order at a predetermined timing.
  • Each image forming unit 13 Y, 13 M, 13 C, 13 K includes a photoreceptor drum 15 as described before. A surface of the photoreceptor drum 15 is uniformly charged by the charging roller 16 for primarily charging.
  • the surface of the photoreceptor drum 15 is exposed and scanned by a light beam from the image forming exposure device 14 in accordance with image data, so that an electrostatic latent image corresponding to each other can be formed.
  • the flux of light to conduct scanning on the photoreceptor drum 15 is emergent by a predetermined angle from a portion on the right side obliquely downward with respect to a position right below the photoreceptor drum 15 .
  • An electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor drum 15 is developed by the developing roller 17 a of the developing device 17 of each image forming unit 13 Y, 13 M, 13 C, 13 K with toner of yellow, magenta, cyan and black. Therefore, the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor drum 15 is developed into a visible tone image of each color.
  • the thus developed visible tone images of four colors are multiply transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 20 in order by the electrical charging made by the primary transfer roller 21 .
  • Each developing device 17 Y, 17 M, 17 C, 17 K is of the two component type developing system in which two component developer containing toner and carrier is used. On a surface of the developing roller 17 a , a magnetic brush of the two component developer containing toner and carrier is formed so that an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 15 Y, 15 M, 15 C, 15 K can be developed.
  • the cleaning device 18 includes a cleaning blade 61 . Waste toner and paper powder can be removed from the surface of the photoreceptor drum 15 by the cleaning blade 61 . Waste toner and others removed by the cleaning blade 61 are conveyed to the front side of the copying machine body 1 at a predetermined timing by the auger 62 used for conveyance provided in the cleaning device 18 . These waste toner and others are conveyed to the waster toner recovery container described later through a pipe for conveyance not shown in the drawing.
  • the above cleaning device 63 includes a cleaning blade 64 . Residual toner and paper powder are removed from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 20 by this cleaning blade 64 . Waste toner and others removed by the cleaning blade 64 are conveyed to the front side of the copying machine body 1 at a predetermined timing by the auger 65 used for conveyance provided in the cleaning device 63 . These waste toner and others are conveyed to a waste toner recovery container described later through a pipe for conveyance not shown in the drawing.
  • the present embodiment includes: an intermediate transfer body unit for detachably holding the belt-shaped intermediate transfer body with respect to the image forming apparatus body; and a guide rail member for detachably guiding the intermediate transfer body unit in a direction of one side of the image forming apparatus body, wherein the guide rail member is set so that the direction, in which the intermediate transfer body unit is guided, can be changed in the middle of guiding.
  • the intermediate transfer belt 20 composes the intermediate transfer body unit 80 together with the drive roller 22 for stretching the intermediate transfer belt 20 , the backup roller 23 , the tension roller 24 , the first idle roller 25 and the second idle roller 26 .
  • the intermediate transfer body unit 80 can be detachably attached to one side (the left side of the multi function machine body 1 in the example shown in the drawing) of the multi function machine body 1 .
  • the above intermediate transfer body unit 80 is composed as follows.
  • the retracting handle 81 provided in the intermediate transfer body unit 80 is operated and rotated, the first idle roller 25 , the second idle roller 26 and the primary transfer rollers 21 Y, 21 M, 21 C, 21 K are retracted.
  • the intermediate transfer belt 20 can be separated from the photoreceptor drums 15 of the image forming units 13 Y, 13 M, 13 C, 13 K.
  • the retractor handle 81 is pivotally attached to the intermediate transfer body unit 80 .
  • the retractor handle 81 is connected to the holding frame 82 to which the first idle roller 25 , the second idle roller 26 and the primary transfer rollers 21 Y, 21 M, 21 C, 21 K are pivotally attached through a link mechanism not shown.
  • the holding frame 82 is moved in a direction perpendicular to the running direction of the intermediate transfer belt 20 . Therefore, it becomes possible to separate the intermediate transfer belt 20 from the photoreceptor drums 15 of the image forming units 13 Y, 13 M, 13 C, 13 K.
  • the retracting handle 81 penetrates the front face frame 96 and the front face guide rail not shown and connected to the intermediate transfer body unit 80 . Therefore, unless the intermediate transfer belt 20 is separated from the photoreceptor drums 15 of the image forming units 13 Y, 13 M, 13 C, 13 K, the retracting handle 81 can not be detached from the intermediate transfer body unit 80 , that is, a stopper mechanism is composed in this structure.
  • the guide rail members 83 , 84 are attached which are members for detachably guiding the intermediate transfer body unit 80 in the direction of one side of the apparatus body 1 so that a direction of guiding the intermediate transfer unit 80 concerned can be changed in the middle.
  • the guide rail members 83 , 84 are respectively provided on the front side and the rear side of the multi function machine body 1 .
  • the guide rail members 83 , 84 include a guide groove 87 for guiding the intermediate transfer unit 80 when two guide pins 85 , 86 provided in the intermediate transfer unit 80 are engaged with the guide groove 87 .
  • the guide groove 87 for guiding the guide rail members 83 , 84 includes: a first portion 87 a directed in a direction in which the intermediate transfer body unit 80 is guided at the time of attaching the intermediate transfer body unit 80 to the image forming apparatus body 1 and at the time of detaching the intermediate transfer body 80 unit from the image forming apparatus body 1 , that is, the first portion 87 a is directed in the substantially horizontal direction or alternatively in the direction in which the left side end portion is inclined being a little raised with respect to the horizontal direction; and a second portion 87 b directed in a direction in which the belt-shaped intermediate transfer body 20 of the intermediate transfer body unit 80 is guided to an acting position of the image forming apparatus body 1 , that is, the second portion 87 b is directed in the direction in which
  • the guide pins 85 , 86 for guiding the intermediate transfer body unit 80 are attached onto the side faces on the front side and the rear side of the intermediate transfer body unit 80 .
  • These guide pins 85 , 86 are respectively arranged at a position close to the end portion on the drive roller side of the intermediate transfer body unit 80 and at an intermediate position distant from the end portion on the drive roller 80 side by a predetermined distance in such a manner that the guide pins 85 , 86 are respectively protruded outside.
  • the positioning pins 88 for positioning the intermediate transfer body unit 80 are provided at positions close to the backup roller 23 on the sides of the front side and the rear side of the intermediate transfer body unit 80 .
  • the protrusion 87 d which is formed into a crest-shape, is formed. This protrusion 87 d prevents the guide pin 85 , 86 of the intermediate transfer unit 80 from mistakenly coming out from the guide groove 87 of the guide rail members 83 , 84 .
  • the intermediate transfer body unit 80 is guided being inclined along the second portions 87 b of the guide grooves 87 of the guide rail members 83 , 84 . Therefore, the intermediate transfer belt 20 of the intermediate transfer body unit 80 is guided to the acting position of the apparatus body 1 .
  • the guide pin 85 of the intermediate transfer body unit 80 is engaged with an end portion of the guide groove 87 of the guide rail members 83 , 84 and the positioning pin 88 of the intermediate transfer body unit 80 is engaged with the positioning groove 91 of the guide rail members 83 , 84 . Therefore, the intermediate transfer body unit 80 is positioned at a predetermined position in the digital color compound body 1 .
  • the fastening member 92 of the intermediate transfer body unit 80 is fastened to the digital color compound body 1 as shown in FIG. 7 , the attaching work of the intermediate transfer body unit 80 is completed.
  • the intermediate transfer body unit 80 includes a plurality of electricity power supplies 93 Y, 93 M, 93 C, 93 K which are arranged substantially in parallel with the attaching direction of attaching and detaching the intermediate transfer body unit 80 to the digital color compound body 1 and also in parallel with the direction of the intermediate transfer belt 20 .
  • the plurality of electricity power supplies 93 Y, 93 M, 93 C, 93 K feed electricity from the multi function machine body 1 side to the primary transfer rollers 21 Y, 21 M, 21 C, 21 K provided in the intermediate transfer body unit.
  • the intermediate transfer body unit 80 When the intermediate transfer body unit 80 is attached to the digital color compound body 1 , the intermediate transfer body unit 80 concerned is guided along the second portion 87 b of the guide groove 87 of the guide rail members 83 , 84 and moved from downward to upward and attached at a predetermined position of the multi function machine body 1 . Therefore, the plurality of electricity power supplies 93 Y, 93 M, 93 C, 93 K of the intermediate transfer body unit 80 are provided in such a manner that an electrode is exposed onto the upper end face of each electricity power supply.
  • the electricity power supplies 94 Y, 94 M, 94 C, 94 K which are provided on the digital color compound body 1 side corresponding to the plurality of electricity power supplies of the intermediate transfer body unit, are provided under the condition that each electrode is exposed on the lower end face of the electricity power supply. Electrodes of the plurality of electricity power supplies 93 Y, 93 M, 93 C, 93 K of the above intermediate transfer body unit 80 are formed into a spring-shape. Therefore, the plurality of electricity power supplies 93 Y, 93 M, 93 C, 93 K can be positively contacted with the electricity power supplies 94 Y, 94 M, 94 C, 94 K provided on the digital color multi function machine body 1 side so as to feed electricity.
  • this digital color multi function machine is provided with, on the left side thereof, a side cover 90 , which can be freely opened and closed with respect to the multi function machine body 1 having a hand feeding tray and both face unit, for exposing the conveyance passages 47 , 51 to convey sheets of paper for transfer.
  • this side cover 90 is opened and closed when the intermediate transfer body unit 80 is attached to and detached from the apparatus body.
  • this side cover 90 is greatly opened so that any problems can not be caused in the attaching and detaching operation of the intermediate transfer body unit 80 .
  • sheets of paper are removed at the time of trouble in which sheets of paper are jammed, it is unnecessary to greatly open the side cover 90 as compared with the case in which the intermediate transfer body unit 80 is attached to and detached from the apparatus body.
  • an opening angle of the side cover 90 with respect to the digital color multi function machine body 1 can be set at least two stages.
  • One stage is a user's operating position at which sheets of paper are removed by the user at the time of the occurrence of jam.
  • the other stage is a maintenance position at which the intermediate transfer body unit 80 is attached to and detached from the apparatus body and the opening angle at this stage is larger than that of the stage of the user's operating position.
  • the opening angle of this side cover 90 can be set at least two stages when the engaging position 95 a on the multi function machine body 1 side of the strap 95 for holding the side cover 90 is changed between the upper user's operating position 95 a ′ and the lower maintenance position 95 a ′′.
  • the opening and closing angle of the above side cover 90 is set at the user's operating position at which sheets of paper are removed at the time of the occurrence of jam.
  • the engaging position of the strap is changed by a service engineer because the attaching and detaching work of the intermediate transfer body unit 80 is supposed to be done by the service engineer.
  • the cleaning device 63 for cleaning a surface of the intermediate transfer belt 20 of the intermediate transfer body unit 80 must be accurately positioned with respect to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 20 . Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7 , the cleaning device 63 concerned can be attached to and detached from the multi function machine body 1 only when the intermediate transfer body unit 80 is attached to the multi function machine body 1 .
  • the intermediate transfer body unit 80 can be removed from the multi function machine body 1 only when the cleaning device 63 is detached from the multi function machine body 1 .
  • the maintenance and operation property of the intermediate transfer belt unit can be improved and the rigidity of the apparatus body frame can be ensured as follows.
  • the front cover 95 provided on the front face of the digital color multi function machine 1 is opened.
  • the cleaning device 63 of the intermediate transfer belt 20 has been drawn out to the operator's side, it is taken out from the multi function machine body 1 .
  • the intermediate transfer belt 20 is separated from the photoreceptor drums 15 of the image forming units 13 Y, 13 M, 13 C, 13 K.
  • the side cover 90 provided on the side of the digital color multi function machine body 1 is opened.
  • an engaging position on the multi function machine body 1 side of the strap 95 for holding the side cover 90 is changed to the lower maintenance position, so that an opening angle of the side cover 90 can be increased.
  • the fastening member 92 of the intermediate transfer body unit 80 is detached from the digital color multi function machine body 1 .
  • the intermediate transfer body unit 80 is gradually drawn out onto the side of the multi function machine body 1 .
  • the intermediate transfer body unit 80 is moved from the inclination angle, which is formed along the second portion 87 b of the guide groove 87 of the guide rail members 83 , 84 , to the inclination angle, which is formed along the first portion 87 a . Therefore, an end portion on the left side of the intermediate transfer body unit 80 is gradually inclined upward.
  • the above intermediate transfer body unit 80 can be drawn out onto the side of the multi function machine body 1 and easily detached from the digital color multi function machine body 1 without making interference with the side cover 90 of the digital color multi function machine.
  • the above intermediate transfer body unit 80 is drawn out onto the side of the digital color multi function machine body 1 . Therefore, unlike the case in which the intermediate transfer body unit 80 is drawn out onto the front side of the digital color multi function machine body 1 , it is unnecessary to provide a large opening portion on the front face of the multi function machine body 1 . Therefore, the rigidity of the multi function machine body 1 is not deteriorated. As a result, it is unnecessary to excessively increase the rigidity of the multi function machine body 1 . Accordingly, the digital color multi function machine body 1 can be downsized.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electrophotography Configuration And Component (AREA)
  • Electrostatic Charge, Transfer And Separation In Electrography (AREA)
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JP2007-296027 2007-11-14
JP2007296027A JP4466721B2 (ja) 2007-11-14 2007-11-14 画像形成装置

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US20110211862A1 (en) * 2010-02-26 2011-09-01 Kyocera Mita Corporation Image forming apparatus
US10386781B2 (en) * 2017-08-30 2019-08-20 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Image forming apparatus comprising intermediate transfer unit movably supported on main body cover

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JP5235396B2 (ja) * 2007-12-14 2013-07-10 キヤノン株式会社 画像形成装置
JP2011102858A (ja) * 2009-11-10 2011-05-26 Fuji Xerox Co Ltd 画像形成装置
JP5821369B2 (ja) * 2011-07-29 2015-11-24 ブラザー工業株式会社 画像形成装置
WO2014017357A1 (ja) * 2012-07-24 2014-01-30 シャープ株式会社 画像形成装置
WO2014017358A1 (ja) * 2012-07-24 2014-01-30 シャープ株式会社 画像形成装置
JP5459735B2 (ja) * 2012-07-24 2014-04-02 シャープ株式会社 画像形成装置
JP2012252367A (ja) * 2012-09-28 2012-12-20 Ricoh Co Ltd 画像形成装置
JP2016186544A (ja) * 2015-03-27 2016-10-27 富士ゼロックス株式会社 現像剤排出構造及び画像形成装置
JP6403662B2 (ja) * 2015-12-28 2018-10-10 キヤノン株式会社 画像形成装置
JP6520811B2 (ja) * 2016-04-28 2019-05-29 京セラドキュメントソリューションズ株式会社 ユニット着脱機構及びそれを備えた画像形成装置
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Publication number Publication date
CN101436030A (zh) 2009-05-20
JP4466721B2 (ja) 2010-05-26
CN101436030B (zh) 2011-12-07
US20090123178A1 (en) 2009-05-14
JP2009122387A (ja) 2009-06-04
KR20090049977A (ko) 2009-05-19
KR101069199B1 (ko) 2011-09-30

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